Salt press



J. P. MADDEN SALT PRESS June 26, 1923. 1,460,026

Filed oct. 12, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 26, 1923. 1,460,026

J.P.MADDEN SALT PRESS Filed Oct. 12, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June .26, 1923...

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JAMES PATRICK MADDEN, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLE- HEMI STEEL COMPANY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

y SALT rnnss.

Application filed rOctober 12, 1921. Serial No. 507,221.

to compress granular material into solid` blocks of the desired shape and size and is especially designed for use in salt presses. It consists in a novel construction relating to 'the die mechanism, and it may be used in well known forms of presses. It includes a r die block adapted to rest on and besecured to the table of a press below the plunger and embodies means in or connected to the die block above its lower end for accurately and easily moving the bottom die member downwardly from the lower end of the die chamber sufficiently to clear the compressed material and then moving4 it laterally out of the way to permit the ejection ot the compressed material from the chamber and then r moving the die member back to position underA the die chamber, pushing the ejected block oit material. ahead of it out of the way, and then moving the die member back up against the lower end of the chamber ready for the next compression. The movement to or from operative position is produced by one continuous movement of an operating` member and in the particular embodiment y of the invention shown, the removal of the die member from operative position takes place when hydraulic power is turned on and the die member remains in its side or inoperative position as long as the source ot' hydraulic power is connected but when that power is disconnected, the die membery automatically returns to operative position and the compressed block is pushed out of the way. The operation being automatic, on the connection ordisconnection of the source ot power, the attention and care necessary on the part ot the operator is reducedl to a minimum. Thek structure is `turthernfiore simple, strong and not likely to get out of order.` The novel features will be more fully understood from the vfollowing description and claims taken withthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through apress and through the die mechanism in place on the table of the press.

Figure 2 is a similar view taken on a plane at right angles to that of Figure l; Figure 3 is a cross section of the; press on a horizontal plane slightly above the sup-v porting table through wedge member 24 looking down; and

Figure 1 is an enlarged section corresponding to that of Figure 1 but showing only the mechanism at the lower end of they die block.

The press shown is of a well ,knowntype and, therefore, needs no specific description to make its structure andoperation clear to those skilled in the art. lt includes a bottom table 10 having a fiat horizontal upper surface and :tour corner posts or rods 11 connected at their upper ends to the hydraulic piston cylinder 12. In the cylinder 12 there is a piston 13 having on its lower projecting end a plunger 14'. and it will of course be understood that the plunger reciprocates vertically upon proper control of hydraulic power from any suitable source supplied to the cylinder 12.

The construction embodying the novel fea tures of. the present invention includes as one of its main elements a die block 15 having therein a vertical open end diechamber 16 and a channel or recess 1T in and entend ing across the lower end of said die block and across the lower end ot chamber 1G. The lower end surface of the die blocki is flat and smooth and .rests on the table 10 and has side flanges 18 through which bolts 19 pass to secure it in fixed position on 'the table. The die chamber 1G preferably has a lining 20 oil suitable material as is common in the art and in the form shown is rectangular in cross section, although the invention is not limited to that particular form. The

lower end of the chamber 16 is slightly flar-V side surfaces make sliding engagement with.

the walls of the upper portions of channel 17 and there is aiixedfabutment or stop carried by the die block project-ing intoA` channel 17 in such position that the inner end of the die member 22 will make contact with it when that die member reaches proper position below chamber 16. Below the die member 22`there is a wedge member 24 serving as an operating and supporting member for said die member. It has a llat bottom surface slidably resting'on table 10 and a portion 25 of its upper surface inclined longitudinally of the channel corresponding to the incline of the lower surface of the die member and` on which that die member rests. The said 'upper inclined portion is longer than the die member 22 and has iiXed upwardly extending abutments 26 and 27 at the upper and lower ends of the inclined surface 25 which serve'tovlimit the relative longitudinal movement of said die member and wedge member. Y A coiled spring 28 makes contact at one end with the projection2' and at its other end is pocketedin a cylindrical socket 29 in the die member 22 and thus tends at all times to yieldingly lforce the die member down the inclined 'surface 25`towards projection 26 at the lower end of the wedge member. The wedge memA ber 24 is guided in its longitudinal movement by side contact with the sidewalls oi channel-17 at `its somewhat enlarged lower end portion.

Assuming'that the parts of the mechanism heretofore described are in the position shown in Figures 1 andp2 and a block ol compressed material isvin the lower tapered portion of the die chamber 16 ready to be discharged, the operating or wedge member 24 is'moved outwardly and during the irst part olthis movement the die member 22 does not move longitudinally with it but by reason of the pressure or' spring 28 'remains in contact with abutment 23 but `as the inclined surface of the wedge member moves outwardly under it, the die member movesl downward by gravity on vertical lines until the end projection 26 on the wedge member engages it and positively carries it with the wedge member in the further outward movement. The result of this is that under one continuous outward movement o'li` the operating wedge member the die member first moves downward a suilicient distance to bring its upper surfaces below the plane of the lower surface of the compressed mate-` rial and side edges of the chamber and that then it moves without obstruction or contact laterally from beneath the chamber to permity the compressed 4block to be freely ejected. The compressed material in chamber 16 temporarily remains there by friction but is ejected by an operation of plunger 14 and it will be observed that the depth ci channel 17 and the consequent distance between its top wall to the table 10 is greater than the height of the compressed material so that when a compressed block is ejected, it drops to t-he table and may be moved laterally from it to a receptacle or chute (not shown) at one side. After th'e'ejection'oi a compressed block, the return movement ot the wedge member 24 carries the die member 22 with it until that die member strikes abutment 23 and its longitudinal movement is arrested and then further inwardl movement ot' the wedge member 24 will by the wedgi'ng action force the'die member back up against the lower end of chamber 16 ready for the next compressing operation. During this reverse movementj the `end of wedge member 24 carrying projection 26,strikes the `previously ejected block and pushes it over to the edge or the table.

In the vvji'referred embodiment of the invention shown, the opera-tion is effected automatically by turning on' and on hydraulic power. To this end the die block 15 has rigidly securedto it supporting'and guiding rods 30 passing through and within the side flanges 1S oi the die blockl parallel to the side walls of channel 17 and projecting a material distancetherefrom. At their outer ends they are rigidly connected t'o a cross member 81. The wedge member 24 has at its outer end integral laterally extending projections 32l in the form of a cross head slidably engaging said rods. Symmetrical rods 33are rigidly secured at their outer ends to said projections 32 and extend into cylindrical piston chambers 34 of slightly greater diameter formed in die block 10 at the sides of and parallel to channel 17. The space around rods 33 at the outer ends of chambers 34 is closed bv suitable water-tight means permitting sliding of vsaid rods, and the piston chambers 34 are connected'to any suitable hydraulic power generator by valve controlledy pipes 35 and passageways 36.

The stationary cross member 3 1 h as rig-k idly ysecured thereto at its center a pipe 37 which has an open end in a closed cylindrical socket 3S formed in the wedge member 24 parallel to the floor 10 and to the side `wall of channel l17. A suitable water-tight closure 39 surrounds pipe 37 at the end of the socket 38 and the outer end ot pipe 37 at the cross member 31 is connected to pipe 41 which in turn has tree and open connection to a constant source of water under pressure. It will be 'observed that theA constant-hydraulic pressure in pipe 87 opening into chamber 38 will have 'a continuous and constant tendency to move the operating wedge member inwardly to the position shown in Figure 1 but that when the connection is open trom the source of hydraulicpressure f I to cylinders 34, the pressureV- actin-g on the.

wedge member 24 throughthe two rods 33 will overbaklance the pressure @GC from incense pipe 3T in the opposite direction and that the result will, therefore, be to move the operating or wedge member outwardly, thus lower ing' the die member and moving it to 'one side. i When the pressure in cylinders 3a is relieved, however` the continuous pressure in pipe 3'? will be sulicient to automatically move the parts baclr to closed position. Owing to the difference in effective pressure contact surfaces, the two rods 33 acting as pistons will of courseover-balance in their effective action the reverse pressure on the end of: the single pipe 37, even where the hydraulic pressure per inchr is thesame an comes from the same source. i

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: f

l. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a stationary vertically arranO-ed die chamber open at its ends, a plunger' adapted to enter the upperend ot'said chamber and m'ove downwardly therein, a.

movable bottom die member adapted to `close the lower end of said chamber, means operating through one continuous movement for moving said lower die memberihorizontally to position below the lower end of said chainf ber and then vertically against the lower end4 of said chamber, closing it and operating` through one continuous reverse movement to move said die member downwardly on vertical lines andthen laterally to'one side of the lower end of'said chamber.

2. ln a device oit the class described, the combination ol' a stationary vertically arranged die chamber open at its ends, a plun-L ger adapted to enter the upper` end of said chamber' and move downwardly therein. a lmoif'able die member closing the lower end of said chamber, means operated by a constant source of power when connected thereto lor moving,` said die member downwardlyon vertical lines lroin said chamber and then later-` ally to one side oit the vertical lines of said chamber. y

3. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a stationary verticallyarranged die. chamber open at its ends, a plunger adapted to enter the upper end of said chamber and move downwardly therein,

movable die member closing` the lower end ot said 'cliainber,means operated by a constant source oi' powerwhen connected thereto for movingv said die member downwardly 'on vertical lines Atrom said chamber and then laterally to one side of the vertical lines of said chamber, and automatic means operated by constantly applied but yielding pressure for returning,1 said die member to position below said chamber and then moving it upwardly1 into Contact with the lower end of said cham` ber closing it when the sourceot power for said first mentioned moving means is cut oil.

e. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a stationary Vvertically arranged die chamber open at its ends, a plungeradapted to enter the upper end yof said ,chamber and move downwardly therein, a

movable die member closing the lower end oi said chamber, controllable means operated by fluid `under pressure tormoving said diey pressure is connected to said first mentioned moving means will overbalance the force` of the constantly applied fluid under pressure tending tocause the reverse movement.

5. ln a device oit the class described, the combination of a stationary 'vertically arranfred die chamber open at its ends, a plun- Qjer adapted to enter the upper end otsaid chamber and move downwardly therein, a horizontal support a distance below the lower end ot said chamber greater than the height of the compressed ,material, a sup-` porting,- and ,operating member adapted to slide across said support under said chamber from one` side. a'lower die member longitudinally movable with and on said .supporting member with itsupper surface normally slightly belowthe Aplane ot the lower end oi" said cliamber,"tlie contact surfaces of said die member and supportingmember being at a vertical incline to the line ol movement, a fixed stop for interrupting the horizontal movement of' said` die member when it reaches a position below said cham-l ber whereby the continued movement oi` said supporting member will by the wedging action of the inclined contact surfaces forcesaid die member vertically into close Contact with the lower Vend oft said chamber.

6. In' device of the class described, the combination of a stationary vertically arranged die chamber open at its ends,a plun ger adaptedto enter the upper end ot said Chamberland move downwardly therein.` a

Ahorizontal support a distance below the lower end oic said chamber greater than the height of the compressed material, a supporting `and operating member adapted to slide across said support under said chamber roinone side, a lower die member longitudinally movable with and on said supporting member with its upper surface ncr-y `inally slightly below the plane of the' lower end otsaid chamber, the contact surfaces of said die member and supporting member llo vbeing at a 4vertical incline to theline of movement, la fixed stop for interrupting the y horizontal movement of said die member when it reaches a position below said chamber whereby the continued movement of said supportingmemberwill by the wedging` action of the inclined contact surfaces force' said die member vertically into close contact with vthe lower' end of said cha-mben,y a fixed stopat the lower end oi' the inclined surface of *saidv supporting and. operating` member in theA path of said die vmember and yielding meanslconnecting said die member Aand supporting member tending` totlorce said die member'longitudinally toward said fixed stop.L i

7. In a device of the class described, the combination offa stationary vertically arranged dieehamber open at its ends, a plunger adapted toenterthe up ser endot-said chamber andl movedownwardly therein,v a-

horizontal )support a distance below the lower end o--said chamber greater than the height :of the.v compressed material, a supporting and operating member adaptedvto' slide across'said supportv under said chamber 'from one side, a lower die member longitudinally' movable with and on said Ysupporting member withv `its ,upper surface norinally slightly below the plane 'oi the "lower end otdsaid",ch-ambeii the Contact sur facesof said diemember and supporting member being atavertical incline to the line ol movement, a` iXed stop 'for interrupting the horizontal -movement of saidl die member when it reachesv a' position below said chamber whereby the rcontinued move-vr ment-oi said supporting member will by the wedgingaction of the inclined Contact suri faces vforce said die member vertically into close contact withthe lowerend. of. said cliambei,fixed vertically projecting stops at i the upper and lower ends of the inclined surface of said supportingimember in the path of the `die member, and a coiled springabutting' atvone end theprojecting stop at the upper endy of' said inclined `portion' and poclreted at its other end' in said die member.

8.111 a-/device of the class described, the combination oi a stationary vertically are ranged ydie chamber open at its ends, a-

plunger adapted tol enter ythe upper end of said chamber and move downwardly therein,

a movable `bottom die member adapted tov close the lower end of said chamber, an operating. member movable on fixed straight lines for moving said die member tov and from position below said chamber and for i moving it vertically into and out of contact with the lower end of said chamber, stationary guiding means for said operating mem# ber, fixed rods carried" by said operatingl meinberparallel to its line of movement, stationary parte having piston chambers entered, by said rods, liquid-tight closures for imparted, by the liquid vsaid pistons.

the` ends ofsaid piston chambers around said rods, and means for supplying a liquid under pressure to said piston chambers to move said operating member in one direction.

9. ln a device -iolz the class described, the combination `of'a stationaryl vertically arrangedrdie chamber open at its ends, 'a

plunger adapted to enter the upper end of said chamber andinove downwardly therein,

a movable bottom die member adapted to close the lower end of said chamber, an operating member movable on fixed straightA lines for moving said die member to and4` from position below said chamber and for moving lit vertically into and out of Contact with `the lower end of said chamber. s'tationarv guiding s means. for said operating member, 'fixed rods carried by said operating member parallel to its line ot move-ment, station-y ary parts havingpiston chambers entered by said rods, liquidftigg-ht closures for the ends olsaid piston chambers around said rods and means for supplying'a liquid under pressure to said piston chambers to move said operating member in one direction andy yielding but constantly' acting means ,tend 'tig to move l,said operating means in the reverse direction wit-li a force less than that under pressure i-n 10. ln device `of the classl described, the

'combination ol5 a stationary vertically ar.

ranged die chamber open at its ends, a plunger adapted to enter the-upper end ol said Lchamber and move downwardly therein,^a` horizontal support a distance:

belmv` the lower endV 'ot said'. chamber greater than the height of 'the vcompressed material, av supporting and operating member adapted to slidevacross said support under said chamber from one side, a lower .die member longitudinally movable with and. on saidxsupporting member with its upper rs'uriace normally vslightly below the planeet' .the lower endof said chamber, the contact surfaces of said die member and supporting member being at a vertical infoline to the line ot movement, a fixed stop 'for interrupting the horizontal movement of said die member when it reaches a position belowsaid chamber whereby the conf Cil raciones said last-inentioned chamber, liquidtight closure iii the end oit' said chamber around said tube, and tmeans for constantly supplying liquid under pressure to ysaid tube tending to move said operating member inthe reverse direction.

11. ln a device ot the class described the combination with a hydraulic press having a reciprocating plunger and a stationary table below said plunger, a die block resting on and rigidly secured to said table having therein an open end chamber adapted to be entered by said plunger and a transverse channel or recess in its lower end across the lower end of said chamber the upper surface of which channel is a distance above the table slightly greater than the height oil compressed material, an operating wedge member slidable on said floor in said channel across the lower end ot said chamber guided by lateral contact with the walls oit said channel, a bottom die member on and inov able with said wedge member having a bottom surface on an incline corresponding to that ot `the wedge member, means ttor yieldingly holding said die member on the lower portion oit said wedge member with its upper surface slightly below the bottom oi said chamber and means for stopping the iiiward movement of said die member when it reaches a position directly below said chamber.

12. A die mechanism 'for presses compris ing in combination a die block adapted to rest on and be scoured to the table of the press having therein an open end rdie chamber and a transverse recess or channel across the lower end of said chamber having Aa depth slightly greater than the height oil' the material compressed, a wedgeblock laterally iitting and longitudinally movable in the lower end of said channel with its lower surface in the plane ct the end oi said die block. a bottom die member laterally fitting said channel mounted on and movable with and, to a limited extent, longitudinally on said wedge member, yielding means for normally retaining said die member on the forward lower portion of t-he wedge member, and fixed means on said die bloclr `lier interrupting the movement ot said die member when below said chamber.

13. A die mechanism for presses comprising in combination a die block adaptedto rest on and be secured to the table ot' the press having therein an open end die chainber and a transverse recess or channel across the lower end ot said chamber having a depth slightly greater than the height of the material compressed, a wedge block laterally iitting and longitudinally movable in the lower end of said channel with its lower surface in the plane of the end ot said die bloclr, a bottom die member laterally litting said channel mounted on and movable with and, to a limited extent, longitudinal on said f n'edie member vieldinoineans for normalli t: Y 7 .l i r:

retaining 'said die member on `the lfrorward ylower portion oli' thewedge member, and

fixed means on said'die block tor interrupt# ing the movement or said die member when below saidchamber,.supporting guide rods rigidly secured vto said dieblocl: on opposite sides of said channel parallel to its side walls and projecting a material distance from it,

i lateral projections on the outer end oit said wedge member makin@Y 'sliding engagement with said rods, plungers secured at their outer ends to said lateral projections and entering piston chambers in sait die block at their inner ends, watertight closures at 'the ends oit said piston chambers around said plungers, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston chambers.

11i. A die mechanism for presses comprisk ing in combination a die bloei: adapted to j rest on and be secured to the `table oit the press having therein an open end die cham ber and a transverse recess or channel across said chai and, 'to a limited extent,longitudinally on said wedge member, yielding means for norf mally retaining'said die member on the forward lower portion of thewedge member.,

and fixe-d means on said die block 'for inter` rupting the movement of said die member `when below said chamber, supporting guise rods rigidly secured to said die bloclr on opposite sides said channel parallel to its side walls and projecting a material distance from it, lateral projections on the outer end ot said wedge member making sliding engagement with said rods, plungers secured at their outer ends to said lateral projections and entering piston chambers in saidl die `block at their inner ends, watertight clon sures at the' ends of said piston chambers around said plungers, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston chambers, a stationary yoke rigidly connected to the outerfends oli' said guide rods, a fluid pressure pipe connectedyto said yoke and extending parallel to the guide rods into aV piston chamber in said wedge member, and a water-tight closure lor said last mentioned chamber around said pipe.

15. ri die mechanism for presses comprising in combination a die bloei: adapted to rest on and be securedto the table of the press having therein an open end die cham ber anda transverse recess or channel across the lower end of said chamber having a depth slightly `greats: than the height of lll) llfi

VBv

' the material compressed,` a `rriovable bottom die member7 an operating member movable in said channel from one end Vfor moving said demember o-V and from position below a said chamber and vertically into or ont of Contact with the lower end of Said chamber, means for guiding and 'moving sald operatlng member `comprlslnginterengagmg fixed parts carried by said die block and Wedge member having relative sliding movement 10 JAMES rATRreK MADDEN. 

